Investigations
DIESEL EXHAUST GAS INTRUSION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04036 - closed, opened 2004-04-12 and involving the FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER.
NHTSA investigation PE04036 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2004-04-12 and currently closed. The subject of record is FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for FREIGHTLINER. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-12-06 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Preliminary Evaluation like PE04036 is the entry point of the federal defect-investigation process. NHTSA engineers scan complaint databases, field reports, and manufacturer data to decide whether an Engineering Analysis is warranted, whether a voluntary recall is already sufficient, or whether the pattern does not rise to a defect finding.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION WAS OPENED BASED ON 3 COMPLAINTS FROM DRIVERS OF 2003 MODEL YEAR (MY) FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA TRUCK TRACTORS AND ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY FREIGHTLINER INDICATING A KNOWN PROBLEM OF EXHAUST LEAK..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time. Related FREIGHTLINER files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION WAS OPENED BASED ON 3 COMPLAINTS FROM DRIVERS OF 2003 MODEL YEAR (MY) FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA TRUCK TRACTORS AND ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY FREIGHTLINER INDICATING A KNOWN PROBLEM OF EXHAUST LEAKS IN CERTAIN DETROIT DIESEL SERIES-60 ENGINES EQUIPPED WITH A ¿COOLED EGR¿ EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI REQUESTED RELATED INFORMATION ON ALL 2000 MY THROUGH THE CURRENT 2005 MY FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTORS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES. ODI¿S INITIAL CONCERN STEMMED FROM THE AFFECTS OF POSSIBLE CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS PROBLEM MAY CONSTITUTE A SAFETY RISK. THE ¿INJURY INCIDENTS¿ INCLUDED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ARE A COUNT OF SUBJECT VEHICLES IN WHICH DRIVERS REPORTED FEELING ILL AS A RESULT OF SOME KIND OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUMES ENTERING THE CAB OF THEIR VEHICLES, AND THE ¿INJURIES¿ ARE THE NUMBER OF SUCH INSTANCES EXPERIENCED BY THE DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
About This Investigation Type
A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first phase of NHTSA's investigation process. It is opened when the agency identifies a potential safety defect pattern, usually triggered by consumer complaints, manufacturer reports, or field monitoring. During a PE, NHTSA gathers information to determine whether a formal engineering analysis is warranted.
Other FREIGHTLINER Investigations
EVDM connector plate separation
Halogen Headlights May Cause Fires
Trolley bus circuit breaker fires
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure
Intermittent Loss of Power Steering Assist
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.